Helping people with early dementia plan for end-of-life care

LEADing Dementia End-of-Life Planning Conversations

NA · University of Utah · NCT05909189

This study is testing a new online tool to help people with early dementia and their families talk about and plan for end-of-life care.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Utah (other)
Locations1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Trial IDNCT05909189 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study focuses on advance care planning for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, emphasizing the importance of discussing and documenting end-of-life preferences. It aims to refine and evaluate a web-based platform called the LEAD Intervention, which assists individuals in the early stages of dementia in engaging their care partners and families in these critical conversations. By providing a structured approach, the intervention seeks to empower both care recipients and their partners to make informed decisions about future healthcare. The study will assess the effectiveness of this platform in facilitating meaningful discussions about end-of-life values and preferences.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 50 and older who are experiencing early signs of cognitive decline or have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Not a fit: Patients with moderate to severe symptoms of dementia may not benefit from this study as they may lack the capacity to engage in advance care planning.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could enhance the quality of end-of-life care for patients with dementia by ensuring their wishes are known and respected.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using structured interventions for advance care planning in dementia, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Care Recipient (CR) is age 50+
* CR Is interested in having conversations about and documenting wishes for future end-of-life care
* CR has noticed changes in memory or thinking skills indicative of preclinical or early stage of AD, OR
* CR has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, or another type of dementia and in the preclinical or early stage
* Care Partner (CP) is age 18+
* CP is a Spouse/partner, family member, or close friend of CR

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has moderate to severe symptoms of dementia

Where this trial is running

Salt Lake City, Utah

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, advance care planning, caregiving, decision-making

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.